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Asian American Organizations Find Obstacles to the Ballot for Limited English Proficient Voters
Poll watchers visited polling stations throughout Alameda County
OAKLAND - Today, San Francisco-based Asian Law Caucus (ALC) monitored poll sites throughout northern California to ensure that Asian American voters, regardless of English language ability, had full and equal access to the ballot. Preliminary findings from this project indicate deficiencies at polling places in Alameda County. These challenges made it more difficult to cast a ballot for voters with limited proficiency in English.
Poll monitors were sent to areas with high concentrations of limited English proficient speaking voters, and they observed concerns relating to access to the voting booth, with a special eye towards challenges facing voters from Asian American communities. Among the findings included:
- Delays in opening poll sites at 7 a.m.;
- Obstacles in obtaining adequate written language assistance;
- Obstacles in obtaining adequate oral language assistance, and;
- Inability to alleviate voter confusion over the voting process.
For example, monitors reported that Poll Site 302400 at City Hall in Alameda, opened at 7:50 a.m., almost one hour after the scheduled 7 a.m. time. Monitors reported that Poll Sites 831000 at Montessori Children's Center in Fremont, and 422910 at Josephine Lum Lodge in Hayward, did not display any bilingual materials until monitors raised it to the poll workers' attention.
Furthermore, Alameda County was required to provide over 720 bilingual Chinese translators throughout the county, but was able to secure less than a quarter of that required number by Election Day.
"There are simple and common-sense solutions that should be enacted to ensure that English language ability is not a barrier to voting," said Carolyn Hsu, Voting Rights Fellow at ALC. "We are ready to work with every Registrar of Voters to improve language assistance at the poll sites so that all voters can effectively cast a vote in November," she added.
"Bay Area citizens count on their county government to provide language assistance at the voting booths," said Carlo De La Cruz, Voting Rights Coordinator at ALC. "The Registrar of Voters needs to fully understand the impact that language barriers have on citizens who are still learning English."
Section 203 requires jurisdictions to provide language assistance if the number of eligible voters qualifying for such assistance meets certain threshold numbers, as determined by the Census Bureau. Language assistance must be provided both before and on Election Day, and it includes translated written materials, such as voter information guides, ballots, signage, and bilingual assistance at poll sites. Alameda County was required to provide bilingual voting assistance in Chinese, Spanish, Tagalog, and Vietnamese.
Alameda County is currently required to comply with specific instructions in carrying out its language assistance plans after the Department of Justice (DOJ) sued Alameda County, alleging that it failed to provide effective access to the electoral process for Spanish and Chinese-speaking citizens. The DOJ brought a similar lawsuit in 1995, which also resulted in a settlement agreement.
ALC is working in partnership with its affiliates at the Asian American Center for Advancing Justice to conduct this voter protection project throughout the country. The effort in northern California is made possible by the assistance of the Filipino Advocates for Justice (Union City), Family Bridges (Oakland), Lao Family Community Development (Oakland), and Asian Resources (Sacramento).
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The Asian Law Caucus was founded in 1972 as the nation's first legal and civil rights Asian American organization. Recognizing that social, economic, political and racial inequalities continue to exist in the United States, ALC is committed to the pursuit of equality and justice for all sectors of our society, with a specific focus directed toward addressing the needs of low-income, immigrant and underserved Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. The Asian Law Caucus is a member of the
Asian American Center for Advancing Justice. For more information, please visit http://asianlawcaucus.org.
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